IRAS. No: this time Ftatateeta has been virtuous. (_All the ladies laugh--not the slaves._) Pothinus has been trying to bribe her to let him speak with you. CLEOPATRA (_wrathfully_). Ha! you all sell audiences with me, as if I saw whom you please, and not whom I please. I should like to know how much of her gold piece that harp girl will have to give up before she leaves the palace. IRAS. We can easily find out that for you. _The ladies laugh._ CLEOPATRA (_frowning_). You laugh; but take care, take care. I will find out some day how to make myself served as Caesar is served. CHARMIAN. Old hooknose! (_They laugh again._) CLEOPATRA (_revolted_). Silence. Charmian: do not you be a silly little Egyptian fool. Do you know why I allow you all to chatter impertinently just as you please, instead of treating you as Ftatateeta would treat you if she were Queen? CHARMIAN. Because you try to imitate Caesar in everything; and he lets everybody say what they please to him. CLEOPATRA. No; but because I asked him one day why he did so; and he said "Let your women talk; and you will learn something from them." What have I to learn from them? I said. "What they _are_," said he; and oh! you should have seen his eye as he said it. You would have curled up, you shallow things. (_They laugh. She turns fiercely on Iras_) At whom are you laughing--at me or at Caesar? IRAS. At Caesar. CLEOPATRA. If you were not a fool, you would laugh at me; and if you were not a coward you would not be afraid to tell me so. (_Ftatateeta returns._) Ftatateeta: they tell me that Pothinus has offered you a bribe to admit him to my presence. FTATATEETA (_protesting_). Now by my father's gods---- CLEOPATRA (_cutting her short despotically_). Have I not told you not to deny things? You would spend the day calling your father's gods to witness to your virtues if I let you. Go take the bribe; and bring in Pothinus. (_Ftatateeta is about to reply._) Don't answer me. Go. _Ftatateeta goes out; and Cleopatra rises and begins to prowl to and fro between her chair and the door, meditating. All rise and stand._ IRAS (_as she reluctantly rises_). Heigho! I wish Caesar were back in Rome. CLEOPATRA (_threateningly_). It will be a bad day for you all when he goes. Oh, if I were not ashamed to let him see that I am as cruel at heart as my father, I would make you repent that speech! Why do you wish him away? CHARMIAN. He makes you so terribly prosy and serious and learned and philosophical. It is worse than being religious, at _our_ ages. (_The ladies laugh._) CLEOPATRA. Cease that endless cackling, will you. Hold your tongues. CHARMIAN (_with mock resignation_). Well, well: we must try to live up to Caesar. _They laugh again. Cleopatra rages silently as she continues to prowl to and fro. Ftatateeta comes back with Pothinus, who halts on the threshold._ FTATATEETA (_at the door_). Pothinus craves the ear of the----